It appears former light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua’s next bout will involve a fellow Brazilian, as UFC President Dana White went on Twitter today to start the rumor mill by saying Thiago Silva would serve as Rua’s opponent though stopped short of confirming the event. Both seasoned scrappers are coming off hard-fought decision defeats and should produce a memorable result given their generally aggressive approach to combat.

With the announcement that Jose Aldo’s title-defense against Erik Koch will indeed take place at UFC 149 a likely landing spot for Silva-Rua could be UFC 147 given the June 23 event’s attachment to Brazil and need for a solid bout alongside Wanderlei Silva-Vitor Belfort.

Thiago loses to Gustaffson and then has to fight an even higher ranked fighter? It's clear to me that the UFC is no longer interested in Thiago as a potential big name, I was expecting him to get a gimme fight after his loss. Maybe Dana is still pissed about the drug test after the Vera fight, this matchup sounds like an attempt to give Shogun a W. Or maybe it's just going to be a great fight and I'm looking at this matchup far, far too cynically.